Cano's Error Leads to a Very Costly Loss

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Toronto	0	0	0	2	0	0	3	2	0		7	11	0
N.Y. Yankees	2	0	0	2	2	0	0	0	0		6	12	1

The Yankees had a 6-2 lead over the Jays today with 9 outs to go and it appeared that the Yankees were on their way to a third win in a row. That was until Robinson Cano had one of his brain-farts in the field and everything fell apart.

With a runner on first and nobody out in the 7th Rasner got the grounder he needed, but instead of an easy 4-6-3 double play, Cano casually made a shuffle pass to Jeter, but didn't get enough on the ball and it skipped under Jeter's glove, E4. An error that would prove to be very costly.

Rasner had been pitching well up to that point, but now instead of nobody on and two out, the Jays had runners on 1st and 3rd with nobody out. Rasner - obviously rattled by the error - then gave up a RBI single to Jose Bautista which cut the Yankee lead to 6-3. This would have been a great time to minimize the damage and take out Rasner. But Girardi stuck with him and Rasner proceeded to walk Greg Zaun to load the bases, still with nobody out. Finally, Girardi goes to the pen. But instead of first and second with nobody, Bruney has to deal with a bases loaded no out jam.

Instead of trying to boost Rasner's confidence Girardi should have been trying to win the game.

After striking out the first batter he faced, Bruney allowed a two-run single to Joe Inglett to cut the lead to 6-5. The ball wasn't hit hard, just a flare over shortstop, but a hit's a hit. He then retired the next two batters without allowing any more damage.

The bullpen continued to falter in the next inning as they would allow the Jays to add two more runs to take a 7-6 lead. Bruney allowed a leadoff single, Marte couldn't retire the lefties he was brought here to retire, and Edwar Ramirez continues to be very hittable during the second half.

As they usually do the Yankees had their chances to either tie, or win the game in the 8th and 9th.

With Brett Gardner at second with two out in the 8th, Johnny Damon failed to drive him in.

Then in the 9th Jeter led off with a single, and Bobby Abreu walked. They had first and second with nobody out and A-Rod at the plate. A-Rod had a chance to be the hero, to silence the boos. He worked the count to 3-2, but lined the ball right at Jose Bautista who stepped on 3rd and fired the ball to first, getting A-Rod by an eyelash for the double play. It was the 11th double play A-Rod has hit into this month.

Cody Ransom then flied out to end the game. Jason Giambi would have been up, but Girardi took him out of the game after the 7th for defensive purposes. They had a one run lead so there was no chance he was going to come up in the 9th with the game on the line, right?

There is more than enough blame to go around for this one; Cano's error, the bullpen's inability to get big outs, A-Rod's double play, Girardi's managing, take your pick.

It was one of those games that makes you want to break things. With a four run lead and nine outs to go, this was a game the Yankees had to win. Whatever slim chance the Yankees still had at making the postseason might have died today. They are now 7 games behind Boston, and they face Roy Halladay tomorrow.

	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Damon, CF	5	0	1	0	0	2	2	.312
Jeter, SS	4	2	2	0	1	0	1	.297
Abreu, RF	4	1	2	0	1	0	2	.299
Rodriguez, A, 3B	5	1	1	1	0	1	5	.306
Giambi, 1B	3	0	1	1	1	2	1	.251
Ransom, 1B	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	.600
Nady, LF	4	0	0	0	0	1	4	.321
Matsui, DH	4	0	1	2	0	0	0	.303
Cano, 2B	4	1	2	1	0	2	2	.271
Rodriguez, I, C	4	1	2	1	0	0	1	.280
1-Gardner, PR	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.189
Molina, C	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.228
Totals	38	6	12	6	3	8	19
1-Ran for Rodriguez, I in the 8th.
BATTING 2B: Matsui (15, Tallet). HR: Cano (13, 4th inning off Parrish, 0 on, 2 out), Rodriguez, I (7, 4th inning off Parrish, 0 on, 2 out). TB: Damon; Jeter 2; Abreu 2; Rodriguez, A; Giambi; Matsui 2; Cano 5; Rodriguez, I 5. RBI: Rodriguez, A (80), Giambi (83), Cano (60), Rodriguez, I (34), Matsui 2 (40). 2-out RBI: Rodriguez, A; Giambi; Cano; Rodriguez, I; Matsui 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Giambi; Cano 2; Abreu; Damon; Ransom. GIDP: Rodriguez, A. Team LOB: 8. BASERUNNING SB: Gardner (7, 2nd base off Downs/Zaun), Abreu (15, 2nd base off Parrish/Zaun), Damon (25, 2nd base off Frasor/Zaun).

BLUE JAYS OFFENSE

	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Rasner	6.0	6	5	4	1	1	1	5.08
Bruney (H, 7)	1.0	2	1	1	0	2	0	2.59
Marte (H, 23)(L, 4-3)	0.1	1	1	1	0	0	0	4.32
Ramirez (BS, 3)	0.2	2	0	0	0	1	0	3.42
Veras	1.0	0	0	0	1	0	0	3.56

BLUE JAYS PITCHING

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Vernon Wells (2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R, BB)

HONORABLE MENTION: Jose Bautista (2-for-4, 2 RBI, R)

GOATS OF THE GAME: Robinson Cano (mainly Cano), the bullpen, and Alex Rodriguez.

The rubber game of this three game set is tomorrow afternoon at The Stadium. Andy Pettitte will take the mound for the Yanks, as Jays' ace Roy Halladay starts for Toronto. First Pitch: 1:05 p.m. - TV: YES - Radio: WCBS 880